Cambodia trivia: 46 questions and answers

Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh, where the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers meet, is the capital. Siem Reap is the town next to the temples of Angkor.

Myanmar. Myanmar does not border Cambodia. Cambodia's neighbours are Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, and its coast faces the Gulf of Thailand.

Riel. The Cambodian riel is the national currency, used alongside the US dollar. The kip is from Laos, the baht from Thailand and the dong from Vietnam.

False. False. Cambodia drives on the right, unlike its neighbour Thailand, which drives on the left.

True. True. Cambodia's calling code is +855. Laos uses +856 and Vietnam +84.

Jayavarman II. Jayavarman II proclaimed himself universal ruler on the Kulen hills in 802. Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII came centuries later, and Norodom was king in the 1800s.

Suryavarman II. Angkor Wat was built for Suryavarman II, who reigned from 1113 to about 1150. Jayavarman VII later built the Bayon and Angkor Thom.

France. Cambodia had been a French protectorate since 1863 and became independent from France on 9 November 1953.

Siam. Siam, today's Thailand, had ruled these northwestern provinces since 1795 and returned them under the Franco-Siamese treaty of 1907.

True. True. The Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh on 17 April 1975 and emptied the city within days. Their regime lasted until 7 January 1979.

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, often called the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, worked from 2006 to 2022 and convicted three senior Khmer Rouge figures.

Steamed in banana leaves. Fish amok is steamed in banana leaves: fish, kroeung paste, coconut milk and egg set into a soft, mousse-like curry.

A fermented fish paste. Prahok is a fermented fish paste, first made to preserve the big catches of small fish from the Tonlé Sap.

Pepper. Kampot pepper has been grown there since at least the 13th century and is a protected geographical indication in the European Union.

Bamboo tubes. Kralan is roasted in bamboo tubes for about an hour and a half. You peel back the charred bamboo to eat it.

Black pepper. The dip is lime juice, salt and plenty of black pepper, ideally from Kampot.

False. False. Samlor kako means 'stirred soup'. The sour soups are called samlor machu.

False. False. All the dishes, usually rice, a soup, fish or meat and vegetables, are put on the table at the same time and shared.

Kratié. The Irrawaddy dolphins live in the stretch of the Mekong just north of Kratié. Kep and Sihanoukville are on the coast, and Battambang is in the west.

Battambang. Battambang, a riverside city in the rice-growing northwest, joined UNESCO's Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy in 2023.

Vishnu. Angkor Wat was dedicated to Vishnu. From the late 13th century it became a Buddhist temple, and it still is today.

The Bayon. The Bayon, built for Jayavarman VII, has many towers with calm smiling faces looking in every direction.

Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm was founded by Jayavarman VII in honour of his mother. Its trees made it famous in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

The 10th century. Koh Ker was the capital in the 10th century, from 928 to 944, first under Jayavarman IV.

A high school. Tuol Sleng was a high school. Since 1980 it has been a museum, and in 2025 it became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

True. True. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple is in Cambodian territory, and UNESCO listed it in 2008.

False. False. Angkor Wat faces west, while most Angkor temples face east. That is why the sun rises behind its towers.

Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat has been on Cambodia's flag since around 1875. The present design with a white Angkor Wat dates from 1948 and was readopted in 1993.

True. True. In the rainy season the Mekong pushes water up the river into the lake, and when the rains end the river turns and flows back to the Mekong.

By the Royal Council of the Throne. The king is chosen from the royal family by the Royal Council of the Throne, which makes Cambodia an elective monarchy.

Durian. The durian is the king, the mangosteen the queen, the sapodilla the prince and the milk fruit the princess.

False. False. Khmer New Year falls on 13 or 14 April and lasts three days, at the end of the harvest.

False. False. The Khmer Rouge abolished money. The riel used today has been issued since March 1980.

Thank you. Arkun means thank you. Hello is suosdei, and sorry is som toh.

Hill or mountain. Phnom means hill or mountain. Phnom Penh is 'Penh's hill', after the hill shrine of Wat Phnom.

False. False. Men say baat and women say chaas.

pram muoy. Six is pram muoy, literally 'five one'. Khmer builds the numbers six to nine on five.

Chumreap suor. Chumreap suor is the polite hello. Arkun is thank you, som toh is sorry, and lea haey is bye.

Som kit luy. Som kit luy means 'The bill, please'. Chhnganh nas means 'Very tasty!'.

True. True. Chhnganh means delicious and nas means very. Cooks and hosts love to hear it.

How much does it cost?. Thlai ponmaan? means 'How much does it cost?'. Ponmaan means how much or how many.

Riel and US dollars. Riel and US dollars are both used, usually at about 4,000 riel to the dollar, with small change given in riel.

True. True. Temples are holy places, and staff check the dress code at the top level of Angkor Wat. A scarf over the shoulders is not always accepted.

Sampeah. In Cambodia it is called the sampeah. The higher the hands, the more respect it shows.

Landmines. It warns of landmines or unexploded bombs left from decades of war. Never go past it, and stay on well-used paths.

November to April. The dry season runs from November to April. The rains come from May to October.